Mullus surmuletus
Size range: 15 - 30 cm
Common size: 25 cm (personal exp. - smaller)
Depth range: 3-80 m
Habitat:
- usually found on Soft bottom- sand , silt, mud
- sometimes found on rocky or vegetation habitats.
Water column position:
- Benthic
Colors & patterns:
- two barbels on chin (can be folded)
- upper profile of the head moderately convex with a sloping snout
- First dorsal fin with dark markings!
- no strips on tail.
- pale with reddish -brown longitudinal line on sandy bottoms
- Often darker and more molted on rocky bottom
- Juveniles: 3-4 cm juveniles in the shallow present pattern of blue-green back and pearl white belly for couple of days before they switch to the species regular color pattern.
Behavior:
- Whether the species is: (?)
- Reef/bottom -associated - related to sites it inhabits
2. Activity:
- Diurnal
3. Approach:
- Indifferent
4. A concise description of any unique behavior (breeding, nesting, cleaning etc.).
Schooling characteristics:
- Small groups
- sometimes small individuals found with group of other species like symphodus etc.
Native/Exotic: Native
Diet: Feed on benthic organisms such as shrimps and amphipods, polychaetes, mollusks, and benthic fishes .
EM notes: description of special east Mediterranean characteristics.
